Gujarat MLAs hate paying govt bills

Several departments of the state government are knocking on the doors of some MLAs of the state, demanding payment of pending dues. Most of the defaulting legislators were MLAs in the 10th (1997-2002) and the 11th (2002-07) assemblies, but some are members of the current assembly, too, while one is a minister in the state government.

These legislators have not paid dues such as the rents of their government quarters and telephone bills, among others. The state legislative assembly has issued notices to 39 former MLAs of the 10th and 11th assemblies, demanding payment of dues pending against their names. Of the 39 ex-MLAs, the 32 MLAs of the 10th assembly together owe different government departments Rs4,05,059. These legislators lost in the 2002 assembly elections, after which they ceased to be MLAs, but they are yet to settle their accounts.

Seven MLAs of the 11th assembly owe the government around Rs2.85 lakh in unpaid dues. Vasanbhai Ahir, state minister in the current government, also has unpaid dues amounting to Rs1,612. Assembly secretary, DM Patel, told DNA that notices had been issued to the MLAs, asking them to pay their dues within a fortnight.